The Watchtower Society are masters in the art of logocide, a science so vital to all religious activity and other huckster enterprises. One sterling example of such is found in the November 1, 99 issue of the Watchtower magazine. Let us take a look at it:
*** w99 11/1 28-9 Questions From Readers ***
Questions From Readers
How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.
As we notice voting as such seem to find favor both from God and the Watchtower Society.
But what about voting in (gasp) political elections?
What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.
First of all, voting is so incredibly dull that 50% of the worldly “nit wits” don’t bother with it (So why should you dummy?). Jehovah's Witnesses of course is SOOOO magnanimous and civic minded so they don’t mind others voting. Then comes the clincher:
As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State.
Here a “worldly” person who innocently think that the words he read means the same as they usually do, smiles and mutters to himself, “how nice, these people isn’t the mindless robots I thought they were, they are actually appealing to the individuals conscience, great!”.
Well, not so fast folks. Now enter the world of manipulation and loaded language:
First, Jesus Christ said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:14) Jehovah’s Witnesses take this principle seriously. Being “no part of the world,” they are neutral in the political affairs of the world.—John 18:36.
As we can see, Jesus himself renders it impossible for his “ true followers” to ever vote in a political election. No Jehovah's Witnesses would be found dead in a ditch with someone who is a “part of this world”.
Second, the apostle Paul referred to himself as an “ambassador” representing Christ to the people of his day. (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ Jesus is now the enthroned King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, and they, like ambassadors, must announce this to the nations. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 11:15) Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent. As representatives of God’s heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel a similar obligation not to interfere in the politics of the countries where they reside.
The next Bible big shot (the real one) Paul, is of course not anymore favorable towards participating in political elections than Jesus.
A third factor to consider is that those who have a part in voting a person into office may become responsible for what he does. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:22, The New English Bible.) Christians have to consider carefully whether they want to shoulder that responsibility.
Imagine a Jehovah's Witnesses who would have voted for George W. Bush? What a horrible thing to contemplate?
Fourth, Jehovah’s Witnesses greatly value their Christian unity. (Colossians 3:14) When religions get involved in politics, the result is often division among their members. In imitation of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid becoming involved in politics and thus maintain their Christian unity.—Matthew 12:25; John 6:15; 18:36, 37.
Good argument, it would be quite embarrassing to face all the raving fundy, pro lifers, women back to the kitchen, death penalty supporters and stone bad behaving youths, back to the dark ages, voters in the Jehovah's Witness community.
Fifth and finally, their keeping out of politics gives Jehovah’s Witnesses freeness of speech to approach people of all political persuasions with the important message of the Kingdom.—Hebrews 10:35.
Now folks, would any Jehovah's Witness who have ever paid any attention during the Watchtower study, theocratic ministry school, ever vote after reading this? Of course not!
Brooklyn know that very well but to normal people who think that words are words would never get it.
In view of the Scriptural principles outlined above, in many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote in political elections, and their freedom to make that decision is supported by the law of the land. What, though, if the law requires citizens to vote? In such a case, each Witness is responsible to make a conscientious, Bible-based decision about how to handle the situation. If someone decides to go to the polling booth, that is his decision. What he does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator.
Great reasoning isn’t it? Jehovah's Witnesses have the freedom NOT to vote in many lands.
Of course those same lands give Jehovah's Witnesses the freedom TO VOTE, but Brooklyn isn’t in favor of such liberties. All Jehovah's Witnesses have the “freedom” NOT to accept a blood transfusion, that is the kind of “freedom” offered by the Watchtower Society.
The November 15, 1950, issue of The Watchtower, on pages 445 and 446, said: “Where Caesar makes it compulsory for citizens to vote . . . [Witnesses] can go to the polls and enter the voting booths. It is here that they are called upon to mark the ballot or write in what they stand for. The voters do what they will with their ballots. So here in the presence of God is where his witnesses must act in harmony with his commandments and in accordance with their faith. It is not our responsibility to instruct them what to do with the ballot.”
What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she present herself to vote? Well, she is subject to her husband, just as Christians are subject to the superior authorities. (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:13-17) If she obeys her husband and goes to the polling booth, that is her personal decision. No one should criticize her.—Compare Romans 14:4.
Go to the ballot and put a blank vote in there. Same with “Christian women with unbelieving husbands” go to the ballot and drop a blank one, is the decree from Brooklyn.
What of a country where voting is not mandated by law but feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth—perhaps they are exposed to physical danger? Or what if individuals, while not legally obliged to vote, are severely penalized in some way if they do not go to the polling booth? In these and similar situations, a Christian has to make his own decision. “Each one will carry his own load.”—Galatians 6:5.
There may be people who are stumbled when they observe that during an election in their country, some Witnesses of Jehovah go to the polling booth and others do not. They may say, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses are not consistent.’ People should recognize, though, that in matters of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God.—Romans 14:12.
Of course the same goes for totalitarian countries where turning up at the voting booth is compulsory, go through the motions but DO NOT vote. Here you have the same not so subtle use of loaded language. Look at this sentence:
In these and similar situations, a Christian has to make his own decision. “Each one will carry his own load.”—Galatians 6:5.
Is there anyone who think this is encouraging Jehovah's Witnesses to actually vote?
Whatever personal decisions Jehovah’s Witnesses make in the face of different situations, they take care to preserve their Christian neutrality and freeness of speech. In all things, they rely on Jehovah God to strengthen them, give them wisdom, and help them avoid compromising their faith in any way. Thus they show confidence in the words of the psalmist: “You are my crag and my stronghold; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me.”—Psalm 31:3.
The message is clear, make whatever “personal” decision you want as long as you don’t vote! And we are all extremely impressed by the overwhelming “freeness of speech” enjoyed by Jehovah's Witnesses. Look at this masterpiece of reasoning:
In all things, they rely on Jehovah God to strengthen them, give them wisdom, and help them avoid compromising their faith in any way.
Do anyone think that “avoid compromising their faith in any way” means voting?
Norm